Liholiho and the Missionaries

“March 30th, 1820. – Memorable day – a day which brings us in full view of that dark pagan land so long the object of our most interested thoughts. Between twelve and one this morning, the word was from Thomas who was up watching, ‘land appears.’” (Sybil Bingham Journal)

“On the morning of the 4th of April, 163-day from Boston, we came to anchor, abreast of the village of Kailua. Between our mooring and the shore, a great number of the natives-men, women and children, from the highest to the lowest rank, including the king and his mother, were amusing themselves in the water.”

“Among the hundreds on the beach, where we landed, was the tall, portly, gigantic figure of a native chieftain, in his prime, Kuakini, the brother of Kaahumanu, and subsequently, the governor of Hawaii, who invited us to his house.”

“After a short call there, and another at Mr. John Young’s, we eagerly sought the king, at his dingy, unfurnished, thatched habitation, where we found him returned from his sea-bathing. On our being introduced to him, he, with a smile, gave us the customary ‘Aloha.’” (Hiram Bingham)

“We made known to him the kind wishes of the American Board, and its friends, and asked permission to settle in his country, for the purpose of teaching the nation Christianity, literature and the arts. He was slow to consent, as might have been expected.”

“The king and his four mothers, and five wives, and little brother and sister, constituted the royal family, if such a group can properly be called a family. Two of his wives, Kamamalu, and Kīna‘u, were his father’s daughters; and a third, Kekauluohi, a half-sister of theirs, had been his father’s wife.”

“Being a polygamist, as many of the chiefs were, the king doubtless felt what he expressed as an objection to our settlement; ‘If I receive and patronize these missionaries, I shall not be allowed but one wife.’ As our observed practice had probably suggested the objection, we allowed our practice for the time being to give the true answer.” (Hiram Bingham)

“While the question of our settlement was pending, we invited and received the royal family on board the brig to dine. They came off in their double canoe, with waving kahilis and a retinue of attendants. His majesty, according to the taste of the time, having a malo or narrow girdle around his waist, a green silken scarf over his shoulder”.

“Happy to show civilities to this company, at our own table, we placed the king at the head of it, and implored the blessing of the King of kings, upon our food, and on the interview. All assembled on the quarter-deck of the Thaddeus; and the mission family with the aid of a bass-viol, played by George P Kaumuali‘i, and of the voices of the captain and officers, sang hymns of praise.”

“On the 7th, several of the brethren and sisters visited the king and chiefs, endeavoring to make their acquaintance and secure their confidence. On the 8th, we felt it necessary to ask of the king that a part of our mission might disembark at Kailua, and the rest at Honolulu, believing that it would be far better than for us all to leave the king, and go to Oahu, or for all to remain with
him at Kailua, which he was proposing to leave ere long.” (Hiram Bingham)

“On Monday morning, the 10th of April, all the brethren repaired to the shore, to do what was practicable to get the royal permission to station part of the mission at Kailua, and the rest at Oahu. On renewing our application, the king said he should wait till the return of Kaahumanu. She had gone out on a fishing excursion.”

“Just at sunset, Kaahumanu and the king gave us the opportunity of freely stating to them our wishes. The whole subject of our location was reconsidered. The reasons for our coming to the country were recapitulated, the useful arts with which the missionaries were acquainted, were at the king’s request enumerated.”

“The considerations in favor of entering on our labors both at Hawaii and Oahu, were presented; the inquiries of their majesties, respecting our business, and our qualifications to promote their temporal good, frankly answered, and our hopes and wishes expressed. that they would give our proposal due consideration, and early grant us a favorable answer.”

“This done, we gave them our aloha, and left them to hold a consultation among themselves by night.” (Hiram Bingham)

“April 11th. Still on board the Thaddeus. It is now the thirteenth day since we made the land. There is not the least hostility on the part of the natives; on the contrary, all appear friendly. It is difficult to say why we are so delayed.” (Sybil Bingham Journal)

“1 o’clock. The important decision is made.” (Sybil Bingham Journal)

“(We sought) permission to take such situations for a year, a very short probation for such an experiment. This the king granted, not only permitting us to reside and labor at different islands, but offering us such a shelter as the grassy huts of the country afforded, and such protection as in their rude and degraded state he could give. This was as much as it was prudent to ask at the time.” (Hiram Bingham)

“We are to proceed to Hoahoo (O‘ahu) to make the principal establishment, leaving two of our brethren and sisters in this place.” (Sybil Bingham Journal)

While the initial approval of allowing the missionaries to stay in the Islands was an extensive process, within a couple of years, after the missionaries developed an initial vocabulary of the previously only-oral language and teaching reading and writing to the Hawaiians, Liholiho wrote a letter to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Commissions:

“Oahu March 18, 1823, To those of the American Board”

“Deep regards to all of you dwelling there in America. Here is my bit of message to all of you. We have recently learned literacy, we have seen and heard the good word of Jehovah.”

“We really desire the good teachings of Jesus Christ. What he has taught all of us is excellent indeed and we have finally become learned.”

“We were shown compassion by Jehovah, who sent Mr Bingham and Mr Thurston and all the teachers. And they dwelled with us here and our lands have become enlightened.”

“Our hearts rejoice for their good teaching to us. Our hearts are joyful at Jehovah’s words to us. That bit of message is finished. Here is another message: you may have already heard.”

“I will clarify so that you all hear. We had wooden deities before, during my father’s time. In my time, I have abandoned wooden deities. It turns out my abandoning of them beforehand was appropriate, for Mr. Bingham, Mr. Thurston and all the teachers were arriving.”

“It is through our father that I may greet all of you. Jesus Christ was good in speaking to you, saying to you all, “Go and teach throughout the islands, and preach the good word of salvation.”

“The ministers sailed here to do good things for us, we were overjoyed. And later on we may well be fully virtuous. We observe the sacred day of Almighty God in heaven, savior of us all.”

“Greatly beloved are all of you for thinking of us, for sending them here. Thankfully you sent teachers or our lands would be completely ignorant. But no, you showed us compassion. Our lands have become enlightened.”

“Deep regards to all of you. May we have salvation through Jehovah and Jesus Christ our Lord. Tamehameha, King of Hawai‘i” (The Liholiho Letter is part of the Ali‘i Letters Collection at Mission Houses; a recent project where Puakea Nogelmeier and his students translated the Ali’i Letters.)

You may find it and other letters written by Hawaiian Chiefs at the Missions Houses’ website:

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